Container

ABSTRACT

A container having a top wall, which has at least one top wall region that can be perforated to form a feed opening for feeding a liquid; a bottom wall, which has at least one bottom wall region that can be perforated to form an outlet opening; and at least one chamber, which is surrounded by chamber walls and in which a base product and an adjustment element are located. The adjustment element is arranged such that it can be moved from an idle position to a working position and, when in the working position, opens at least one chamber wall. A chamber wall has at least one opening, on or in which a component of the adjustment element is detachably fastened when in the idle position. The component of the adjustment element closes the opening in the chamber wall.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a container, comprising: a cover wall providedwith at least one cover wall region which can be pierced to form asupply opening for introducing a liquid; a bottom wall provided with atleast one bottom wall region which can be pierced to form an outletopening; and at least one chamber surrounded by chamber walls, in whicha basic product and an adjustment element are present, wherein theadjustment element is arranged so that it can be moved from a positionof rest to an operating position, and in its operating position opens atleast one chamber wall.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In beverage machines, particularly in coffee makers, disposablecontainers or disposable packaging, for example in capsule form, areused, which are sealed using one or two foils and which contain, forexample, coffee or other substances, such as flavourings, in powder orliquid form. These disposable containers are inserted into the beveragemachine, the contents of the disposable container are combined with aliquid, for example water, and this preparation is subsequentlydispensed as a beverage that is ready to drink. The used disposablecontainer is subsequently removed from the beverage machine and disposedof.

EP 0 451 980 B1 discloses a sealed package containing one or morepowder, pasty or liquid comestible preparation ingredients. Through aninlet opening, water is supplied to these ingredients. The finishedpreparation is dispensed through an outlet nozzle in the bottom area,said outlet nozzle having a displaceable plug. For dispensing thefinished preparation, the bottom wall of the package, consisting of afoil, is pierced from below in the area of the outlet nozzle by aconnecting piece which is part of the machine, said connecting piecepushing the plug upwards against an intermediate wall after entering theoutlet nozzle. This intermediate wall has a wall section equipped withpredetermined breaking lines which is punctured by the plug, thusreleasing the preparation. It flows downwards from the package through acentral flow channel in the plug and subsequently through the connectingpiece of the machine.

This packaging has the disadvantage that the bottom outlet has to beopened by the connecting piece of the machine, so that the connectingpiece comes into contact with the finished preparation. To satisfy therigorous hygiene requirements that such a device has to meet nowadays,it is necessary to dean this connecting piece every time beforeinserting a new package.

US 2004/0115317 A1 describes a cartridge filled with, for example,ground coffee, the bottom wall of which is pierced from the inside.Arranged above the bottom wall is a cup-shaped intermediate bottom whichis termed an internal plunger, the dimensions of said intermediatebottom being adjusted to the interior dimensions of the cartridge. Thepowder resides between the intermediate bottom and the cover wall of thecartridge. The intermediate bottom has an outlet nozzle which isembodied as a cutting element. If water is introduced under pressurethrough the cover wall into the interior of the cartridge, theintermediate bottom is pushed downwards, whereby the cutting elementpierces the bottom wall and the outlet is unblocked.

This cartridge satisfies hygiene requirements, but the operability ofthe cartridge is not always ensured. It is essential in this embodimentthat the water pressure and hence the pressure acting on theintermediate bottom be high enough, even from the start of introduction,that the bottom wall can be pierced. Jamming of the displaceableintermediate bottom in the process cannot be ruled out. In addition,since the intermediate bottom has a multitude of openings, liquid mayenter the space between the bottom wall and the intermediate bottom,which may lead to relatively quick reduction of the pressure on theintermediate bottom after the beginning of the introduction process,whereby the bottom wall cannot be pierced reliably any more.

Known from WO 2008/132671 are capsules containing a certain amount of asoluble beverage. The capsule has a cover foil which is perforated inthe beverage machine by a connecting piece through which a liquidsolvent under pressure, for example water, is led to the interior of thecapsule.

The capsule is essentially sub-divided into four chambers. The liquidsupplied is first led into a distribution chamber and from theresupplied to a storage chamber where the quantity of the soluble beverageis present. In this storage chamber, the soluble beverage mixes with theliquid supplied, and the prepared beverage is subsequently collected ina collection chamber, from where it is dispensed through an opening inthe bottom wall of the capsule.

To open the bottom wall, a displaceable perforator is arranged in acentral chamber of the capsule, the perforator being pushed against thebottom wall by the connecting piece, so that the bottom wall is tornopen.

In the process, a through-channel arranged inside the perforator isaligned with the outlet opening of the collection chamber, so that theprepared liquid can be dispensed downwards from the capsule.

This capsule, however, has the disadvantage that complicated built-inparts are required to separate the different chambers. A distributionchamber arranged before the storage chamber is required to ensure thatthe liquid is supplied to the storage chamber as uniformly as possibleand to guarantee homogeneous mixing in the latter.

WO 2007/114685 describes a capsule-shaped packaging containing a portionof liquid. A column is arranged centrally, which is connected with thebottom wall of the packaging at its bottom end via an undulatingflexible bottom region. Both the top side and the underside of thepackaging are closed off by a sealing foil.

The upper sealing foil can be pierced and the column pushed downwards bymeans of a connecting piece, whereby it in turn punctures the foilattached to the bottom. The column is equipped with a venturi devicethrough which the portion of liquid is drawn out of the chambersurrounding the column when a liquid is introduced into the column.Mixing of the two liquids takes place in the lower part of the column.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a container that has asimple construction and works reliably.

This object is solved with the container according to the invention.

The container is provided with a cover wall provided with at least onecover wall region that can be pierced to form a supply opening forintroducing a liquid. The container further has a bottom wall that isprovided with at least one bottom wall region that can be pierced toform an outlet opening, and with at least one chamber surrounded bychamber walls, in which a basic product and an adjustment element arepresent, wherein the adjustment element is arranged so that it can bemoved from a position of rest to an operating position, and in itsoperating position opens at least one chamber wall. The chamber wall isprovided with at least one opening to which or in which a component ofthe adjustment element is releasably attached in its position of rest,wherein this component of the adjustment element closes off the openingin the chamber wall.

The term container is understood to mean both reusable containers andpackaging and disposable containers and packaging.

The term piercable indicates that the wall region in question can beopened in any particular manner and way. The opening of the wall regionmay, for example, be affected by incising or cutting open, broaching,puncturing or tearing open.

In its position of rest, the adjustment element takes on the, inparticular sealingly, closing off of the chamber containing the basicproduct, and is at the same time fixed in place due to the releasableattachment. Releasable attachment to the opening means that thecomponent of the adjustment element is positioned at the outer surfaceof the wall region of the chamber wall that delimits the opening.

Releasable attachment in the opening means that the component isarranged inside the opening at the wall region of the chamber wall whichdelimits the opening.

The opening closed off by the adjustment element can be opened with aconnecting and dispensing means, for example the connecting piece of abeverage machine, in that the closing component of the adjustmentelement is pushed inwards and out of the way inside the chamber.Depending on where this opening is located, the supply opening or theoutlet opening of the chamber can thereby be created.

The liquid supplied by the connecting and dispensing means of thebeverage machine is led into the chamber and mixed with the basicproduct there. This chamber thus not only forms the storage space forthe basic product but also the mixing chamber. Additional subdivisionsof the container's interior can therefore be dispensed with.

In an embodiment of the container, the chamber wall is a cover wall ofthe container, a bottom wall of the container or a partitioning wallinside the container.

If the chamber wall forms the cover wall of the container, the supplyopening through which the liquid can be led into the container out ofthe connecting and dispensing means of the beverage machine is createdby detaching the releasable attachment of the component of theadjustment element. In this embodiment, the component of the adjustmentelement forms the cover wall region which can be pierced for theintroduction of a liquid.

If the chamber wall in question is the bottom wall, the outlet openingthrough which the mixture of liquid and basic product can be dischargedis created by detaching the releasable attachment of the component ofthe adjustment element. In this embodiment, the component of theadjustment element forms the bottom wall region which can be pierced toform the outlet opening. In this embodiment the connecting anddispensing means first punctures the cover wall, and subsequently theadjustment element is actuated by this connecting and dispensing means.

If the chamber wall is a partitioning wall located inside the container,an additional chamber is arranged inside the container between thepartitioning wall and the cover wall or the bottom wall, which isadvantageous for reasons of hygiene, be cause the component of theadjustment element closing off the opening is not directly exposed toexternal environmental influences. By detaching the releasableattachment of the component of the adjustment element, an access or exitopening of the chamber is created inside the container.

In an embodiment of the container, the component of the adjustmentelement closes off the opening in a liquid-tight manner.

The adjustment element may be connected to the chamber wall via apredetermined breaking line. This predetermined breaking line can, forexample, be formed as an adhesive seam. Another possibility consists ofcasting the adjustment element to the chamber wall with a predeterminedbreaking line. In an embodiment a section of the predetermined breakingline may be constituted as a living hinge.

In an embodiment of the container, the component of the adjustmentelement comprises a plate-shaped element that closes off the opening inthe chamber wall.

The plate-shaped element may be provided with an upstanding annular wallwith at least one inlet opening. In this way, a cup-shaped formation iscreated, which the connecting piece of a beverage machine can engage,for example.

In an embodiment, the adjustment element is provided with a cuttingand/or puncturing device, which, in a particular embodiment, may consistof a needle. The bottom wall may, for example, be provided with apiercable region or a sealing foil that can be punctured with thecutting and/or puncturing device.

When the connecting and dispensing means of a beverage machine engagesthe adjustment element, the opening in the chamber wall concerned isopened on the one hand and the bottom wall is simultaneously opened bymeans of the cutting and/or puncturing device on the other hand.

In an embodiment of the container, the cutting and/or puncturing deviceextends to the bottom wall. In particular, the cutting and/or puncturingdevice contacts the bottom wall, so that an additional fixation of theadjustment element in its position of rest is achieved. The supplyopening or an access opening and the outlet opening are thus created inthe operating position of the adjustment element.

In accordance with a further embodiment, the cutting and/or puncturingdevice may be provided with a tube section with at least one outletopening. Other cutting and/or puncturing devices are possible.

In accordance with a further embodiment, the component of the adjustmentelement is a plate-shaped element that closes off an opening in thebottom wall.

The adjustment element may be provided with means for tilting theadjustment element. In this embodiment, the adjustment element, which isfixed to or in the bottom wall, projects upwards inside the containerand is tilted by the connecting and dispensing means of the beveragemachine so that the opening in the bottom wall is broken open. The meansfor tilting the adjustment element preferably comprise an actuatingplate which is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of theadjustment element.

The term basic product is understood to mean a powder and/or liquidproduct, which may consist of one or several components. The basicproduct can, for example, be a syrup, a concentrate, or an extract. Thebasic product can be mixed with the liquid supplied from outside, and ispreferably soluble in this liquid.

The basic product may be a foodstuff, a nutritional supplement, adietary foodstuff, a pharmaceutical product or a cleaning agent.

The type of liquid is to be selected in dependence on the type of basicproduct. The associated device in which such a container may be used isdirected to and equipped to suit the intended use concerned. Such adevice may be a beverage machine in which containers, in particulardisposable containers, with the contents of which the taste of forexample, dunking water can be changed, are put to use.

The device is provided with a receiving part for a container and aconnecting and dispensing means, in particular in the form of aconnecting piece, with which the container can be pierced and with whichat least one liquid can be supplied to the container.

The container and/or the adjustment element may be made of plastic.Production can take place by means of an injection moulding process. Thecontainer with its circumferential wall and its bottom wall and anyfurther chamber walls may be manufactured in one piece, wherein thebottom wall may be formed entirely or partially onto the single-piececontainer, depending on the embodiment.

Depending on the embodiment, the two components, container andadjustment element, may also be manufactured in one piece. Thissingle-piece container with adjustment element is subsequently filledwith the basic product and sealed with a respective sealing foil ascover wall and/or bottom wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained below withreference to the drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective top view of a container,

FIG. 2 a perspective bottom view of a container,

FIG. 3 a cross-section of the container according to FIGS. 1 and 2,together with a connecting piece which is part of the machine,

FIG. 4 the embodiment of a container shown in FIG. 3 with insertedconnecting piece, and

FIG. 5-10 show further embodiments of a container with a connectingpiece.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1 and 2 a container 10, which is, for example, used as adisposable container, is shown in two perspective views. The container10 has a cover wall 40, a circumferential wall 30 and a bottom wall 50.

In the embodiment shown here, the cover wall 40 is formed by a foil 41which is attached to an annular bead 32 of the circumferential wall 30.

The bottom wall 50 consists of a ring plate 52 and a centrally arrangedfoil 54. Both the cover wall 40 and the bottom wall 50, respectively thefoil 54, have a piercable wall region 42, 56.

The bottom wall 50 is further provided with two annular ribs 60 andradial ribs 62, which are not displayed in the following figures for thesake of clarity, between the two annular ribs 60. These ribs may becompletely dispensed with.

In FIG. 3, a vertical cross-section through the container 10 shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 is depicted. The interior space of the container 10 ispartitioned into a first chamber 12 and a second, smaller chamber 18. Inthe embodiment shown here, the chain chamber 18 is positioned centrallyin the chamber 12. This particular arrangement is rotationallysymmetrical. An embodiment such as, for example, an asymmetricalarrangement is also possible.

The two chambers 12, 18 are separated by a cylindrical partitioning wall20, wherein the cylindrical partitioning wall 20 extends from the coverwall 40 downwards into the container. Furthermore, the basic product 14,above the surface level 15 of which a free space 16 in which a gas, forexample air or a protective gas, is present, is provided in the chamber12.

The chamber walls 13 of the first chamber 12 are formed by the coverwall 40, the circumferential wall 30, the bottom wall 50 and thepartitioning wall 20, wherein the partitioning wall 20 is provided withthe opening 19.

Also, an adjustment element 100, which is in its position of rest and isprovided with a plate-shaped element 102, on which an upstanding annularwall 104 with an inlet opening 106 is moulded, is provided in thechamber 12. The plate-shaped element 102 with the annular wall 104 formsthe component 101 of the adjustment element 100 that closes off theopening 19 in the partitioning wall 20. A cup-shaped configuration ofthe component 101 is created by the annular wall 104.

The annular wall 104 abuts the inside of the partitioning wall 20 and isconnected with it via a predetermined breaking line 108, wherein theinlet openings 106 located above the predetermined breaking line 108 areclosed off by the interior wall 20. The annular wall 104 can, forexample, be bonded adhesively to the partitioning wall 20 along thepredetermined breaking line 108. The component 101 is thus releasablyattached in the opening 19.

A cutting and/or puncturing device 110, which is formed in the shape ofa needle 112, is arranged on the underside of the plate-shaped element102. The needle extends from the underside of the plate-shaped element102 to the bottom wall 50 and ends above the piercable region 56 of thebottom wall 50. The bottom wall 50, like the cover wall 40, may consistof a foil 54, in particular a sealing foil.

In FIG. 3, the connection element 200 in the form of a connecting pieceof a beverage machine, not shown, has been drawn in, with the connectionelement 200 being provided with a cutting and/or puncturing device 210at its lower end, which has already partially punctured the cover wall40 in its piercable region 42 for the purpose of forming the supplyopening 46, and is moving in the direction of the adjustment element100. The annular wall 104 forms the connection element 140 for theconnecting piece 200. After complete introduction of the connectingpiece into the container 10, a liquid can be led into the interior 12 ofthe first chamber via the through-channel 212 of the connecting piece200, as shown in FIG. 4. The mixing of liquid and basic product 14 takesplace in the chamber 12.

While FIG. 3 shows the adjustment element 100 in its position of rest,the operating position of the adjustment element 100 is shown in FIG. 4.The adjustment element 100 is pushed downwards by means of theconnecting piece 200, whereby the predetermined breaking line 108 on thecomponent 101 is broken open. The inlet openings 106 are unblocked,whereby an access opening to the chamber 12 is created.

The cutting and/or puncturing device 110 has punctured the bottom wall50 and in this way created the outlet opening 58 of the container 10.The foil parts of the piercable region 56 hang downwards. The liquidsupplied via the connecting piece 200 enters into the cup-shapedinterior region of the adjustment element 100, that is, the secondchamber 18, and can flow into the chamber 12 through the inlet openings106 present in the annular wall 104, and there mix with the basicproduct 14 into a mixture 14′. The chamber 12 thus also forms the mixingchamber for the two substances.

If a free space 16 is present above the surface level 15 of the basicproduct 14, as can be seen in the depiction shown here, the liquidintroduced via the connecting piece 200 can first spread in this upperfree space 16 before the mixing takes place in the lower part of chamber12.

The length of the cutting and/or puncturing device 110, in particularthe length of the needle 112, may be shorter than shown in FIGS. 3 and4. The advantage of a shorter needle 112 is that, when the adjustmentelement 100 is moved, the access openings in the form of the inletopenings 106 are opened first and the piercable area 56 is punctured ata later point in time. The liquid can thus enter into the chamber 12prior to the opening of the bottom wall and begin the mixing processbefore discharge from the container 10 takes place. To promote thispremature entering of the liquid into the chamber 12, the connectionpiece 200 can be provided with a device 220 for puncturing the coverwall 40 and for creating at least one venting opening 44 (drawn in as anoptional feature only in FIG. 4 by means of dashed lines).

In FIGS. 5 and 6, a further embodiment with an adjustment element 100 isshown in its position of rest and operating position, respectively, inwhich the cover wall 40 does not cover the region above the adjustmentelement 100. This region remains uncovered, so that the component 101 ofthe adjustment element 100 is directly accessible. The partitioning wall20, which is also the chamber wall 13, forms a component of the outerwall, that is, the cover wall 40, of the container 10. The component 101of the adjustment element 100 forms the cover wall region 42 that ispiercable to allow for the supply of the liquid in this embodiment.

Here too, a plate-shaped element 102 with an annular wall 104 is shownas the component 101, the end face of the annular will 104 being adaptedto the shape of the cutting and/or puncturing device 210 of theconnecting piece 200. Also, only one lateral inlet opening 106, which isarranged below the predetermined breaking line 108, is provided in theannular wall.

A column 122 is present at the underside of the component 101, at thelower end of which bars 130 are arranged, between which openings 132 areformed, through which the mixture 14′ of liquid and basic product canenter the interior region in the operating position of the adjustmentelement 100. An annular cutting and/or puncturing device 110 with a tubesection 114, which is provided with an outlet opening 116, is arrangedat these bars 130. The mixture issues downwards through this outletopening 116.

The opening 106 is unblocked, and thus the opening 19 opened, throughdetachment of the releasable attachment of the component 101 of theadjustment element 100, whereby the supply opening 46 is formed.

In FIG. 7 a further embodiment is shown, in which the plate-shapedelement 102 of the component 101 of the adjustment element 100 isprovided with a significantly shorter annular wall 104 without anopening. The annular wall 104 serves as a clamping element, which theconnection piece 200 engages. The predetermined breaking line 108 isprovided between the end surfaces of the interior wall 20, which is partof the cover wall 40, and the annular wall 104. The component 101 of theadjustment element 100 is located at the opening 19 and closes off theopening 19.

The connecting piece 200 has a through-channel 212 which branches intotwo transversely arranged outlet channels 214.

As shown in FIG. 8, the lower section 202 of the connecting element 200engages the space between the annular wall 104 and holds the component101 in clamping relationship, so that it cannot drop down in anuncontrolled manner and possibly close the discharge opening 58unintentionally. The separation force required for separating thepredetermined breaking line 108 must be set such that the clampingconnection can be established first, and the tearing off takes placeonly then.

The liquid supplied is dispensed laterally from the outlet channels 214into the chamber 12 where the mixing with the basic product 14 takesplace.

In FIG. 9, a further embodiment is shown, in which the adjustmentelement 100 is provided with a plate-shaped element 102, which forms thecomponent 101 that is releasably attached to the opening 19 of thebottom wall 50 and closes off the discharge opening 58 of the container10. A column 122 is moulded to the plate-shaped element 102, the column122 projecting upwards into the interior of the container 10 andprovided at its upper end with an actuating plate 124, inclined relativeto the longitudinal axis 105 and slantingly arranged.

Instead of the inclined actuating plate 124, the column 122 may also beprovided with a correspondingly inclined end face.

The plate-shaped element 102, and thus the component 101, forms thepiercable area 56 of the bottom wall 50 of the container 10. Thecomponent 101 is connected to the bottom wall 50 via a predeterminedbreaking line 108, wherein, in a section, the predetermined breakingline 108 is constituted as a living hinge 109. The adjustment elementand the bottom wall 50 and the circumferential wall 30 are constitutedas a single piece.

Once the connecting piece 200—as shown in FIG. 10—has punctured thecover wall 40, the tip of the connecting piece 200 comes into contactwith the slantingly arranged actuating plate 124 and swivels theadjustment element 100 sideways via the living hinge 109, whereby thepredetermined breaking line 108 in the region of the bottom wall 50 isbroken open, and thus the discharge opening 58 is opened up.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   10 container-   12 first chamber-   13 chamber walls-   14 basic product-   14′ mixture-   15 surface level-   16 free space-   18 second chamber-   19 opening-   20 partitioning wall-   30 circumferential wall-   32 annular collar-   40 cover wall-   41 foil-   42 piercable wall region-   44 venting opening-   46 supply opening-   50 bottom wall-   52 ring plate-   54 foil-   56 piercable wall region-   58 discharge opening-   60 annular rib-   62 radial rib-   100 adjustment element-   101 component-   102 plate-shaped element-   104 annular wall-   105 longitudinal axis-   106 inlet opening-   108 predetermined breaking line, attachment point-   109 living hinge-   110 cutting and/or puncturing device-   112 needle-   114 tube section-   116 outlet opening-   122 column-   124 actuating plate-   130 bar-   132 opening-   140 connection element-   200 connection element-   202 lower section-   210 cutting and/or puncturing device-   212 through-channel-   214 outlet channel-   220 device for creating a venting opening

What is claimed is:
 1. A container, comprising: a cover wall that is provided with at least one cover wall region, which can be pierced to form a supply opening for introducing a liquid, a bottom wall that is provided with at least one bottom wall region, which can be pierced to form an outlet opening, at least one chamber surrounded by chamber walls, in which a basic product and an adjustment element are present, wherein the adjustment element is arranged so that it can be moved from a position of rest to an operating position, and in its operating position opens at least one chamber wall, wherein a chamber wall is provided with at least one opening to which or in which a component of the adjustment element is releasably attached in its position of rest, wherein the component of the adjustment element closes off the opening in the chamber wall.
 2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the chamber wall is a wall from a group formed by a cover wall of the container, a bottom wall of the container and a partitioning wall inside the container.
 3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the component closes off the opening in a liquid tight manner.
 4. The container according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment element is connected to the chamber wall via a predetermined breaking line.
 5. The container according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment element is glued to the chamber wall.
 6. The container according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment element is cast to the chamber wall.
 7. The container according to claim 1, wherein the component of the adjustment element comprises a plate-shaped element which closes off the opening in the chamber wall.
 8. The container according to claim 7, wherein the plate-shaped element is provided with an upstanding annular wall with at least one inlet opening.
 9. The container according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment element is provided with a device that forms at least one of a cutting device and a puncturing device.
 10. The container according to claim 9, wherein the device is a needle.
 11. The container according to claim 9, wherein the device is provided with a tube section with at least one outlet opening.
 12. The container according to claim 1, wherein the component of the adjustment element is a plate-shaped element which closes off an opening in the bottom wall.
 13. The container according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment element is provided with means for tilting the adjustment element.
 14. The container according to claim 13, wherein this means for tilting comprises an actuating plate that is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the adjustment element.
 15. The container according to claim 1, wherein the opening closed off by the adjustment element can be opened by pushing aside the closing component of the adjustment element inwards in the chamber. 